Botabt engine



Patented May 6, 1919.

u. vul

J. T. VAWTER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION mso Nov.2e.1917.

tor and the positions o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i .roux T, vAw'rEn, or Los ANGEXLES, CALIFORNIA Patented May 6, 1919.

Application led November 26, 1917. Serial No. 204,278.

To all rwtom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. VAw'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los An eles, county of Los Angeles, and State of alifornia, have invented a certain new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to an internal combustlon engine ofthe rotary type and has for its objects to provide a light and powerful prime mover in which a maximum of economy in fuel in proportion to its power and weight may be attained, and to provide an engine, simple in construction and operation and-consisting of the fewest possible parts and in which all the cycles are perormed with no intervals of interruption or rest.

These objects and others, are accomplished by one .form of the engine represented in the accompanying drawin and more speeltically detailed in the su joined specification.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken approximately on line l-l--Fig 2.

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately 1n line 2 2-Fi 1.

Figs. 3 an 31 are fragmentary sectional views, illustrating the assageway ofthe rofpthe movable elements traveling wlth the rotor, at the time of foreing the compressed explosive mixture from in front of the one element to in back of another element located in a diHerent or neighboring chamber; the sections are taken on line 3-3, and 3 a respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionon llne 4 4, Fig. 3 showing one of the movable elements of the rotor and two of the Webs or annular extensions operating in annular grooves, provided in the stator.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5 5- vIhe rotor 1, is a Vcylindrical unit mounted on a Shaft 2, whichisjournaled in a suitable base, 3,'and operates within a diametrically larger stator 4. The periphery of the stator is inwardly indented or depressed .at definite points as at 5 and 6, such indentations or depressions in part contacting-with and being at the point of= contact, concentric with the rotor, which is provided with a plurality of annular extensions or webs 10, centrally split annularly as at 9 to form a fiexible land tight joint and permit of expansion and contraction without impairing the eeiency of of the joint. Such extensions divide the rotor and stator into a series of parallel compartments A, each of which is formed with an expansion and compression chamber 7 and 8, respectivel as abovev mentioned.

As seen in Fig. 2 the compartment or chambers 7 and stantially rectangular, three sides formed by the cylinder of the rotor, and two of its annular extensions or webs 10, and the fourth side formed by the cylinder' of the stator.

Therotor 1, is forl'ned with a continuous passageway ll, where through a charge of compressed explosive mixture is delivered vor transferred from one compartment to itsl adjacent one by and through the means and in the manner presentlv described.

The interior of the rotor isprovided with a plurality of equally s aced boxes 12, in each of which is housed a pliurality of inter-fitting 8, in each section, are submembers or pistons 13 and 14 respectively, f

slidable in grooves 15, in said boxes, and in grooves 15', 1n the extenslon or webs 10, ofv

, the rotor, and removable relatively to each other. In each end of said members 13 and 14, is swiveled or otherwise mounted a head 17 and 18 respectively, held in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the stator by springs 19 and 20, in said boxes and bearing against the ends of said members, which as seen, extend through the said passageway 11, and the rotor.

l The outer face of each of said members 13 and 14 is formed with a recess 22 and 23 respectively, terminating at a determined point inwardly from the ends 24 and 25 of the members, said ends constituting cut-ois for the explosive mixture. Spark plugs 26, are provided on the stator, and in each inward depression 6, is provided an exhaust port 27 and an intake ort 28, to which may be connected a conduit leading from a source of gas supply, not shown.

The heads 17 an'd 18 respectively, are narrower than the members in which they are mounted, as seen in Fig, 4, and do not travel in the grooves 15 and 15 of the extensions or webs 10, and boxes 12, but the spaces between the respective ends of the heads and between the heads and tops of the members, are filled vby disks 21 and 22, concentric with the swivel of and attached to the heads in any. suitable mannerto move therewith,

grooves 15 and 155 The upper faces of said heads 17 and 18 driven out through the exhaust port Y27.

After the members 13 and 14 pass the intake port 28, the charge of explosive mixture that was drawn into the chamber 8, and has remained thereiii during the balance of the circumferential travel. of the members, will be compressed in' said chamber, aga-inst lthe depression 5 of the stator, the compression continui until the members reach the point of deflection ofthe depression 5.

It will be obvious that while the charge ahead of the members-is being' compressed,

another charge is being drawn in by the' members. When themember 14:,.with4the charge ahead ofit, begins to traverse the depression 5, it as well as the lmember 13, will be depressed' inwardly, 'the end 20, of the member 14, which, during'its travel in that part 'ofv the chamber 8, which is 'f full radius, has held closed any communication between such chamber 8, and passageway 11, now establishing communication between.

such chamber 8, and. passageway 11, to an adjoining chamber 7, and behind thel mem-l ber 13, in such adjoining chamber, such member being in the position assumed and representing the completion of the cycle.

At the time of the opening of the'passage? way 11, by the said end of the member 14, the member 13, irthe adjoining chamber 7, is delivered to and exploded behind another member in another chamber, this cycle being-'..carried out in the entire machine, progressively in succession; the first and' last compartment communicatingby means of the passageway. l

While I hai'e .shown an engine having a series of compression and expansion chamberswith each of which'is associated a plurality of members, it will be understood that any multiplication of such chambers, or members,l required for greater efficiency, is within the scope of this invention.

' It isalso Within the scope of the invention to provide the stator with a Agreater number of depressions and the rotor with a greater number of pistons for the' purpose of effecting a multiple stage compression of the explosive charge.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary'engine, a cylindrical stator formed with a plurality of parallel annular grooves, a diametrically smaller cylindrical rotor provided with a plurality of 'annular extensions fitting in said grooves and dividing'the stator and rotor into a plurality of annular parallel compartments, said stator being inwardly depressed at definite points, the depressions contacting with said rotor and dividing each parallel compartment into a plurality of chambers, one of said depressions provided with an exhaustand an in- -take port, a. passageway formed in said rotor, and pistons on said rotor, one in each chamber, whereby to compress an explosive charge against ,one of said depressions, and transfer such compressed charge `through said passageway to in behind a piston in an adjacent compartment, said pistons controlling the transfer, and igniting means for the compressed charge.

2. In a rotary engine a stator and a rotor divided into a plurality of` parallel compartments, each divided into a compression and expansion chamber, said rotor provided with a passageway, a piston in each compartment operating to deliver a compressed charge from the compression chambers of and behind the pistons 'of other compartments, and lgmting means for 'the charge behind thevpistons in said expansion cham- .compartmentsto the expansion chambers l "bers, said pistons controlling thepassage of the charge through said passageway.

3. A cylindrical rotor and a diametrically larger cylindrical stator, the space between said rotor and stator divided into a series of parallel compartments, the stator being formed to divide'each compartment circumferentially into a plurality of chambers, respectively, compression and expansion cham- 'bers, said rotor provided with a passageway` and pistons on said rotor, for eaclcompression and expansion chamber, to compress an explosive charge in the compression-chamber of each compartment and deliver the compressed charge to in behind another piston 'in a chamber of an adjacent comparti ment, said pistons controlling the outlet of the compressed charge from one compartment to another. 1

x 4. A cylindrical rotor afydiametrically larger cylindrical stator, formed to divide the rotor and stator into a plurality of annularcompreion and expansion chambers arranged in parallel series, a passageway in said rotor communicating with the chambers, means on said rotor for compressing an explosive charge in .the compression chambers, saidmeans controlling the opening and closing of. said passageway to cause the compressed explosive charge to be dellvered from 1n front\of the means in one compression chamber to behind a means in an adJoining expansion chamber, and means ,for lgnitlng the charge.

5. A cylindrical rotor, and adiametri- 130 cally larger cylindrical stator formed with means to divide the same intoa lurality of parallel` compartments, and to i ivide each compartment into a compression and expansion chamber, said rotorformed'with a pas-1 sageway, a radial piston on said' rotor and 1n each compartment and operable through said passagewayl to hoid same closed during the compressive stroke of saidpiston-and to open same to cause the compressed charge to be delivered through said passagewayto in 'behindV another piston in an adjoining compartment, and firing means for the charge.

6. In a rotary engine, a vrotor and a diametrically larger cylindrical stator having depressions contacting with the rotor at definite points, means dividing the space be tween the rotor and stator into a series of parallel compression and expansion chambers, said rotor formed with a passageway, pistons operable to compress an explosive charge successively in the compression 'cha-mbers and hold said passageway closed during such compression, and to open said passageway to transfer the compressed charge t0 an adjoining chamber and behind the pis'- ton therein, 'and means for firing thecompressed charge when thepiston has closed the passageway.

. 7. A rotor and a stator divided into a plurality of parallel compartments, said rotor having a passageway, ,means operating in each' compartment to deliver a charge compressed thereby successively through said passagewayv from one compartment to another, and means to ignite the charge.

8. A rotor and a stator divided into a plurality of -parallel compartments, said rotor having a passageway, and means on the rotor successively operating to compress an explosive charge in one compartment 'and deliver the compreed charge through said passageway to another compartment for igmtlon.

9. A rotor and a stator divided into a plurality of parallel compartments, saidrotor having a passageway and` pistons operating in said compartments successively to compress an explosive charge therein and deliver the compressed-charge through said passageway successively to adjoining compartments and behind the pistons "therein,

said pistons controlling the opening and closing of said passageway.

10. A'rotor having a plurality of annular extensions and provided with a passageway, and a stator having grooves for accommodating the extensions of said rotor, said .extensions cooperating withsaid groovesto divide. the rotor and stator into a' plurality of parallel compartments, .and said stator formed 'to divide the compartments into compression and expansion chambers yielding means on said rotor for controlling the opening and closing of said passageway, for compressing an explosive charge in said compressed charge from the compression chambers of the compartments' to the expansion chambers of adjoining 'compartments in succession. 4

11. A stator,- a diametrically smaller rotor, interiitting meanson the rotor `and stator dividing the space between same'into a plurality of parallel compartmentsh, said.

compression* chambers, and delivering the stator formed .to divide the compartments into a 'plurality of chambers, said rotor provided with a passageway, and means operable in thecompartmentss'uccessively to compress an explosive charge in some of said chambers, anddeliver the compressed charge to other adjoining chambers', through lsaid passageway. l

. 12. A stator and a rotor divided into a plurality of parallel compartments,` the stapoints contacting with the rotor, and dividing each compartment into .a compression and expansion chamber, and a piston in each compartment to compress' an explosive charge against one. side ofthe depressions,

and deliver the compressed charge 4to thev other side of said' depressions in adjoining compartments and lbehind 'the pistons therein.

13. A rotor having a plurality of. annular extensions and provided .with a passageway, and a stator having grooves for accommodating the extensions of said rotor, saidextensions bein formed to provide a. tight v joint between t e stator' and rotor and di- W, H. DU'rroN, ANTON GroE'rzER, Jr.

-tor formed with depressions at certain 

